Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-21
State AFFAIRS.
A LuII After Saturdays Excitement,
The House Generally Admitted 10
Have Acted Legally,
The Constable and Justice Of the
Peace Both Guilty CT Contempt of
Legislative Authority.
Possibilities for the Future Growth and
Wealth of the State Shown by Ee-
bates on the Land Bill.

events Of public nature, the opinions
are as numerous as the indiv-
iduais themselves. 1t is but human MS
ture TO take sides in matters concerning
the contests between those who brave the
authority of the state and the authority
itself. Without consulting any of the
facts or the law in the case, and simply
listening to those who are carried away
by their feelings or friend
ship fol the respondent, Mr.
Garfield, you could readily believe
that he was a much abused gentleman,
and that the Lower House Of the Legis-
lature had committed some outrage upon
the rights Of the people. But, when you
stop to consult those candid, just men,
who, while they may regret the necessity
Of invoking the sovereign power of the
Legislature to preserve it's own dignity
and respect, you hear them say that the
House OF Representatives did right, that
in selfdefeuse they were forced to protect
their body against the intrusions of those
who proved to be disturbing ele-
ment and the Invasion of their
rights and privileges as a branch of leg
islative power of the state, by a suo-
ordinate, without authority Of law.
While the proceedings were being car
ried on in the Lower House last night,
some IF the Senator'S and prominent at
tOrneys discussed tn legal phases of the
case in an informal way in the lobby.
1t being admitted that member could
be arrested for treason, felony or
breach of the peace, aud waving the fact
that the Charge of assault against
Speaker George c. Pend eton was false,
ihe question was discussed whether en
assault was properly an Offense for which
he could nave been arrested during the
session Of the Legislature. Some con
tended that our statutes did not SpeCit-
CalIy define q breaCn Of the peace, but
that the Appellate court held That an
assault came within that class Of offenses
This was disputed for reasons that an
assault was an offense agains.
the person and not an Of
Tense against the public peace,
like affrsYs and other minor
offenses classified in the penal code as
disturbances of the peace, Const quently
the justice Of the the peace committed u
contempt Of the authority of the Legis-
latuTe for which, had he not purged him
self, he could have been imprisoned.
1t is also COntended that "When it is
found necessary for tine public service to
put member under arrest, or when, on
auy public ing Try, matter comes out
which may lead to affect the person Of
member, it is the practice Immediately to
acquaint the House, that they may Know
the reasons for such proceeding" This
the constable did not do, consequently
he too was guilty of contempt.
1t is said that Judge Walker of the
Appellate court was consulted last night
as to the legality of the proceedings in
the House, and he admitted that they
were perfectly regular, aud they had u
right to punish MIR. Garfield for contempt,
and if it had been shown that the Justice
and constable had transcribed their
authority, they were also liable for con-
tempt.
1t was said last night that papers were
in preparation to sue out a writ
of habeas corpus before the District
Judge for Mr.. Canfeld's release, but
there have been no developments to JUS
tify the trnth of such report.
One prominent gentleman said that
the Lower House was like q hornets
nest aroused, and it would not be safe
for any one to "mOnkey with them"
During this affair more than one mem
Der of the House has been heard to re-
mark that the san Antonio Express
would find itself a defendant in as many
libel suits as there were members Of the
Lower House, if it did not cease to pub
lish its scurrIlOus attacks.
THE VAST RESOURCES OF THE STATE,
IICidently during the discussion OF the
=, II
developed phase of the magnitude of
the states resources, and the great prob
abilities for the future growth and health
of her population that must be gratifying
even though it arises out of bitter con-
test over the adoption of q land policy,
ostensibly for the state at large, but
practically for the northwest portion of
her vast territory.
In their efforts to arrive al q sstisfaC-
tory solution, each member develops
that propensity of human nature that
makes all the world akin, and that is,
they make sectional interests the text OF
their views, and, with few exceptions, in
variaDly begin their arguments with, "Mr.
Speaker, in my section of the country"
and then proceed to give description Of
the situation, according to their home
immediate people. The vast area com
posing the boundless prairies of the great
northwest, are to them an unknown
country, useless in the great economy Of
the state, except to be leased 10 few
cattlemen who desire it for pasturage.
But the members from the far west take
the floor and demonstrate that in their
section, "Mr. Speaker" there
is q growing population that
demands the fertile prairies
for cultivation, and to lease them means
to retard the development of one of the
grandest portions of the vast domain OF
the state of Texas.
Thus it is, incidentally there crops out
of these debates the knowledge of the vast
resources of the state.
SCENE IN JUSTICE TEGENER's COURT.
At O'clock p. M, the time set by
Justice Tegener to try the cases against